Electrochemical anodisation techniques are regularly used to modify carbon fiber surfaces as a means of improving electrochemical performance. A detailed study of the effects of oxidation (+ 2 V) in alkaline media has been conducted and Raman, XPS and SEM analyses of the modification process have been tallied with the resulting electrochemical properties. The co-application of ultrasound during the oxidative process has also been investigated to determine if the cavitational and mass transport features influence both the physical and chemical nature of the resulting fibers. Marked discrepancies between anodisation with and without ultrasound is evident in the C1s spectra with variations in the relative proportions of the electrogenerated carbon-oxygen functionalities. Mechanisms that could account for the variation in surface species are considered. Graphic

Conductive microneedle patches consisting of carbon nanoparticles embedded in a polystyrene matrix have been prepared using micro-moulding techniques. The interfacial properties of the structures before and after electrochemical etching have been characterised using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact angle. Anodisation of the needles leads to a significant increase in oxygen functionality and is shown to dramatically improve the electroanalytical capabilities of the microneedle array. The detection of uric acid in horse blood was used as a model system through which to assess the performance of the system. The composite approach is shown to lead to viable carbon-based sensors and can offer a rapid prototype option for the development of tailored microneedle systems.

Alkali‐activated functionalized carbon nanotubes (AFCNTs) and 2D nanostructured MoS₂ are investigated as a novel hybrid material for energy‐storage applications. The nanoflower‐like 2D MoS₂ is grown on the surface of AFCNT using the controlled one‐step hydrothermal technique. The activation of functionalized carbon nanotubes results in greater performance due to the improved surface area. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of the AFCNTs is found to be 594.7 m² g⁻¹ which is almost 30 times of the as‐prepared carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The improved surface area with attached hydroxyl and carboxylic functional groups helps in the attachment of MoS₂ nanoflowers onto the AFCNT, thus reducing the interfacial resistance and providing an easy path for electron transfer. The electrochemical analysis shows a high specific capacitance of 516 F g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹ with a corresponding energy density of 71.76 Wh kg⁻¹, which is an encouraging reported value from AFCNT and MoS₂ hybrid material. To the best of our knowledge, herein, the first report on AFCNTs and 2D MoS₂ nanostructured hybrid electrode material for supercapacitor applications is provided, and promising results in terms of specific capacitance, energy density, and power density by boosting the properties of individual material are explained.